001 Mix [Reprise of Arise Anew]

[moveslikestrider]

…so let’s recap here. There’s someone out there with just as much rage in his cassock as Vantas. That’s not a good thing so don’t go patting yourself on the back there, Explosion. It’s the don’t-go-down-that-road sort of thing and the less I see or talk to you, the better. Glad we got that cleared up.

And the other guy would make Lalonde get busy with her skirts. Speaking of which, Rose, you’re here right?

I’m not just the lone Dersite that popped up into that shop and waltzed right back out into space. Because I refuse to call it the plane. That’s soul bonder and hippies with their magic brownies territory and I’m not cool with that. And what’s with the talk about experiments? [Dave pulls his hood off his head and straightens his shades so he can look around.]

That sounds straight out of some horror movie where the main chick goes on about how her dad was doing all this stuff but, they never heard from him again. Only shit son he’s right behind you with a needle. Whoops, there goes chump number one. Who’s next?

[At the lack of reply he frowns, waiting but hearing nothing.]
…

Hello?

Comments

[lamb_of_gold]

Most experiments aren't quite that dramatic, I'm afraid.

[moveslikestrider]

So what level of horror should I be feeling? Give me an estimate here, I want to do this all by the book. [His power swirls in him as he scratches at the back of his neck. While his face is blank and his voice is deadpan, his thoughts are a swirl of frustration, cynical bitterness, and the grim acceptance of his life being one set of planned out events to the next. Worry. He's worried for his friends and did their plan go right?

Grief is mixed in there somewhere, Dave is made up of all these tired thoughts.]

[lamb_of_gold]

Simply enough to keep your wits about you, and to expect just about anything...

Though I don't think you're the type to be surprised by much.

[moveslikestrider]

Now see, stuff like that doesn't give me time to appreciate what I've risen into. At least give me an example or two.

[He pauses at that, mouth pressing into a thinner line.]

...what's that supposed to mean? You just met me. Or is this time travel business?

[lamb_of_gold]

A sudden change in age, or significantly altered memories are somewhat common.

Simply an impression. Was I wrong?

[moveslikestrider]

Any warnings beforehand or, is always a surprise?

[His shoulders fall a little, but his expression remains the same.]

Nah, you're not wrong. A Strider's always prepared.

[lamb_of_gold]

The latter, I'm afraid.

Prepared and unsurprised are not always the same thing.

[moveslikestrider]

Course, what other way is there.

It was a joke. [It wasn't. It was a misdirection.] Anyways, seen any girl in orange and gold robes around? Goes by Rose or Lalonde.

[lamb_of_gold]

[Sadly, it's not nice to call strangers on bullshit.]

I'm afraid not; I take it you've read the brochures?

[moveslikestrider]

[Eh, Dave does it all the time. Then again he's a bit an asshole.]

Only a moron doesn't read what's provided, course I did. From Captain go-kill-yourself- to I'm sorry but you're up the creek without a paddle but take this. You'll need it.

[lamb_of_gold]

[Perhaps unexpectedly, this makes Mu laugh.]

It can be quite dangerous alone, if you don't know anything about this place.

[moveslikestrider]

And that's why the buddy system is just so popular. What's to know about this place besides what the guides said? I assume you're going to tell me.

[lamb_of_gold]

I'll answer questions if you have them; I'm afraid I've been here so long by now that things don't often seem as important to me as they do to other people.

[moveslikestrider]

Well here's a start, how long have you been here?

[onehundredbeers]

[What's that? His name mentioned, combined with being unwanted? Like a gigantic sign saying get the fuck over here, here's Nathan, drinking a slushie, staring down at... this kid.]

It's Nathan. Nobody uses 'Explosion'. That's- it's too business-y, you know? Like 'oh hey Mr. Explosion', ugh, no.

[He does not seem to care that there was an implied statement of 'I would prefer not to see you'. He has a slushie. His mood is good.]

Well. I guess the news uses Explosion, but, uh, I'm pretty- pretty sure you're not the news. Or a camera guy. Or anything. Unless you're like one of those fucking genius kids, like, got into college when you were six and now you're some fucking super journalist and shit.

[moveslikestrider]

[The kid is slightly above average height and with the flattest expression on his face that could ever exist.]

Right, I'm some super genius out to take over the world and stroke my cat all day. [The deadpan is delivered without a facial twitch to give anything anyway.]

Actually just a Knight, but I do mess around with photography. [Photographed a hologram of his own brain in a jar once.]

So Nathan then. [There's a pause.] How many people travel this thing, seriously. You're the second person I've run into. And I've only been here fourteen minutes, fourty-two seconds, and 3 miliseconds.

...

If time is even flowing right here.

[onehundredbeers]

Yeah, uh... don't wear a watch up here. Time kinda stops when you come here, right? So you go back and your watch says it's like fucking... 3 pm and it's really like, 11 am.

[He shrugs weakly. He's still staring down; above average height or not, good ol' Nate is pretty huge.]

Fuck, uh, anyway, there's like. Fifty people here? Or more, I dunno, I never counted them. [He sucks on his slushie.] Plus people keep fucking coming and going, no point in trying to, uh, count, you know?

[lamb_of_gold]

Close to four years, best as I can tell. It can be difficult to track, coming and going as we do.

[moveslikestrider]

Jesus, how are you still sane?

[lamb_of_gold]

Sanity is a relative thing, but why would I not be?

[moveslikestrider]

Well that explains why I can't feel jack shit about the time here. Good to know, I guess.

[Oh yeah, Nate is very big, Dave has to crane his neck to look up at him.]

Makes sense. ...though calling it the Astral Plane still seems a bit trippy. It's like an intergalactic airport but without the flat 'now boarding' 'get yo ass to the gate' commentary.

[He raises an eyebrow and looks around once, the broken sword in his hand disappearing in a click and a tiny flash. But his head turns back to the taller guy with a nod.]

How long have you been stuck popping in and out?

[moveslikestrider]

[His mind swirls confusion at the statement, brief flashes of the impossible odds he's fought against. And the sheer inevitability of a fighting a losing battle. Dave himself just shuts his eyes behind his shades.]

Nothing.

[He cocks his head slightly, not unlike a crow.]

So this place. Isn't constantly some wash of horrible that sneaks up and kicks you in the back of the head. More like the occasional hit and run?

[onehundredbeers]

[He looks up in thought, his brow furrowing.]

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Like. A year? Pretty sure things are like, way fucking off since I was stuck up here for a fucking month.

[He rubs the side of his neck.]

And, uh, yeah, that whole astral plane thing is fucking bullshit. You know who goes on the 'astral plane'? Those fucking weird chicks on the internet who are like 'oh, I am totally married to the soul of Frankenstein, he's just misunderstood!' Yech.

[lamb_of_gold]

It is most certainly not nothing.


One may pick and choose when they come and go, but you cannot stay away too long; you'll be drawn back here like a moth to a flame.

[moveslikestrider]

[Yes it is. He's so not expecting this place to be a murder fest just like home. Nope. Nadda.]

Great. We're all in some inter-spacial bug zapper. Bzzt, whoops that was Timmy. We knew him well.